The mobiletype program is a mental health assessment and monitoring tool that runs on mobile phones.

The program assesses the general mental health of young people in real-time and transmits this data to a website to be reviewed by their general practitioner (GP) in consultation with their patient. The website consists of individualised feedback reports for each participant, and graphical displays of the monitoring data. The primary aims of the current project are to examine: (1) whether the process of self-monitoring via the mobiletype program increases young people's awareness of their mood and reduces depressive symptoms and (2) whether emotional self-awareness mediates the relationship between self-monitoring and depressive symptoms.

The mobiletype monitoring intervention group will monitor their current activities, current mood, responses to negative mood, any recent stressors and coping strategies. Other activities monitored include eating patterns, exercise patterns, quantity and quality of sleep and alcohol and cannabis use.

Device: Mobile Tracking Young People's Experiences (mobiletype)

A mobile phone self-monitoring program, based on momentary sampling techniques, that prompts young people to complete it four times a day. The program asks several questions about daily activities, mood, stress, eating and exercise.

No Intervention: Comparison monitoring program

The mobiletype monitoring comparison group will monitor their current activities, eating patterns, exercise patterns, quantity and quality of sleep and alcohol and cannabis use.

This program excludes questions about mood, stress and coping strategies.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:

14 Years to 24 Years (Child, Adult)

Genders Eligible for Study:

Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Aged 14 - 24 years of age

Proficient English

Patients must be deemed to have an emotional/mental health concern by their GP or be screened to have at least a mild mental health problem (a score of 16 or above) on the K10 Symptom Scale

Exclusion Criteria:

Severe psychiatric or medical condition that prevents the person from complying with either the requirements of informed consent or the study protocol.

Young people referred to a mental health specialist by their GP will be excluded only if they obtain a specialist appointment during the mobiletype study period (2 - 4 weeks).

Contacts and Locations

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study.
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00794222